Bordeaux Wine

Located around the Gironde estuary and along the Dordogne and Garonne rivers, Bordeaux is one of France’s most important wine-producing regions. The groundwork was laid when the Dutch drained the marshes of the Medoc in the 17th century. Then climate is maritime and as humid as it was when the land was covered in marshes instead of vineyards, leading to a variety of viticultural problems, such as rot and mildew.

Bordeaux can be divided into four major regions. The Medoc is the area west of the Gironde and downstream (north) of the city of Bordeaux. It includes the major communes (roughly north to south) of St-Estephe, Pauillac, Saint-Julien, and Margaux. The “right bank” refers to the area east of the Dordogne. It includes the communes of St-Emilion and Pomerol. Graves comprises the area upstream (south) of the city of Bordeaux. The first growth Haut-Brion is located here. This area is also well-known for the sweet wines of Sauternes. Finally, the Entre-Deux-Mers is the area between Read more »

Located around the Gironde estuary and along the Dordogne and Garonne rivers, Bordeaux is one of France’s most important wine-producing regions. The groundwork was laid when the Dutch drained the marshes of the Medoc in the 17th century. Then climate is maritime and as humid as it was when the land was covered in marshes instead of vineyards, leading to a variety of viticultural problems, such as rot and mildew.

Bordeaux can be divided into four major regions. The Medoc is the area west of the Gironde and downstream (north) of the city of Bordeaux. It includes the major communes (roughly north to south) of St-Estephe, Pauillac, Saint-Julien, and Margaux. The “right bank” refers to the area east of the Dordogne. It includes the communes of St-Emilion and Pomerol. Graves comprises the area upstream (south) of the city of Bordeaux. The first growth Haut-Brion is located here. This area is also well-known for the sweet wines of Sauternes. Finally, the Entre-Deux-Mers is the area between the Dordogne and Garonne.

In 1855, Napoleon III asked the brokers of Bordeaux to create a formal classification of the wines of the Medoc. The properties, rather than the vineyards, were ranked in a system that endures surprisingly well today. The first growths as they stand are Ch. Lafite Rothschild, Ch. Latour, Ch. Margaux, Ch. Haut-Brion (included even though it is in Graves), and Ch. Mouton Rothschild. The only change to this list occurred when Ch. Mouton Rothschild was promoted from second-growth status in 1973 after decades of effort on the part of its owner. There are five tiers of classed growths (first growth, second, etc). Below this are properties classified Cru Bourgeois; after this come the wines that carry the name of the commune, then the area, then simply Bordeaux. The right bank was not classified until 1955, a hundred years after the Medoc, and Graves received its classification in 1959.

Red Bordeaux is made, in order of importance, from Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Malbec, and Carmenere. The wines of the Medoc are dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon; those of the right bank are composed of a greater proportion of Merlot.

The second most famous wines from this region are botrytized dessert wines such as those from Sauternes. These are made largely from Semillon with a bit of Sauvignon Blanc, are also extremely ageworthy, and can command prices to rival those of the greatest first-growth red Bordeaux.

Dry white Bordeaux ranges in style from fresh, zippy, and youthful to rich, serious, and often barrel-aged. The former is usually composed mostly of Sauvignon Blanc, with Semillon and Muscadelle playing a supporting role. The latter typically contains a much greater proportion of Semillon and often has the potential for long aging.

Bordeaux has had a bit of a rough ride over the past decade or so. With prices for the top growths spiralling out of control, and new consumers perfectly happy to forgo the classic, Bordeaux’s future has seemed dim at times. Of course there are still t...

Sturgeon have swum the Bordeaux river basin as long as Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon and Muscadelle have rooted down the region’s vineyards. They make an excellent pairing, yet this duo has long been overlooked.

Bordeaux gets a bad rap for several reasons. the top wines are ridiculously expensive. They also require significant time in the cellar to really show their stuff, and the style of these wines has changed over the years, becoming bolder, riper, and to ...

International real estate experts Knight Frank have released the findings of their 2014 Global Vineyard Index, a study in which the group analyzes the year's vineyard purchases and determines which investors are buying vineyards in which countries.

There are so many great value wines right under our noses that we often miss them as we’re scouring the shelves for something new. Some inevitably are those ‘old’ wines that we just dismiss out of hand for various reasons. Take white Bordeaux for examp...

I was recently able to taste through a broad selection of 2011 Bordeaux at this year’s ProWein event in Dusseldorf, Germany . For more information on ProWein, an annual trade only wine fair please refer to my brief write up which can be found here: Wh...

We’ve had quite the varied set of wines reported on this week. From classified growth Bordeaux, to a variety of Syrahs and the unusual white wines of Portugal and the perfect spring time whites, it’s a wide ranging and particularly diverse set of wines...

This is of course a bit biased, and I didn't even include three of my favorite wines, Bordeaux, Chianti, and Barbera, but the point here was to try and highlight what I think are the greatest wines made on earth, which are not necessarily the most comm...

The south of France may soon be home to the region's first Chinese-run winery.
This week China-based BHC International Wine Assets Management, an avid importer of French wines, made an offer to purchase Anne-Marie and Guilhem Durand's Chateau La Basti...

This rich, deep, deep red wine exudes cigar, cranberry and a touch of cedar. Very smooth - even creamy - on entry with silky tannin that requires no further aging to soften. Finish is pleasant and medium with decent grip. Superb value for current dri...

Smoky and a bit twiggy and stoney on the nose with red fruit and rust. This is curiously a touch sweet almost on entry the this turns firm and a bit mean for a moment before showing the ripe fruit of the nose again, vacillates between ripe fruit and fa...

Served this wine at a dinner party and everyone loved it. Well balanced with nice acidity and medium tannins. Notes of dark fruit, including plum, blackberry, and hint of cassis. Some earth and tobacco on a nice medium the finish. Very enjoyable (a...

This little gem from the vaunted 2009 vintage is regular A.C., but is delicious and balanced with bright red fruit in abundance. Although there is little grip and the time to drink is now, these facts do not detract as the wine is surprisingly elegant...

Nice earthy, blackberry-cassis nose with a hint of caramel and a strangely acetic note. Very Bordeaux, however. On the entry, the flavours are somewhat muted and one-dimensional with a moderately short, steely (mineral-rich) finish. The wine is full...

A well-respected Entre-Deux Mers estate, Chateau Beaulieu hits above its station with excellent colour and fine aromas of crushed cherry and spice. There is some residual tannin on the mid-palate but the mouth-feel is round, balanced and satisfying - ...

Although lavender is usually valued for its aromatic contribution to sachets and pot-pourri, it adds, when used sparingly, an interesting undertone to more familiar herbs such as rosemary and thyme... Read more »

Notes: Duck breasts are widely available in supermarkets these days, fresh or frozen. If you don't see them in the meat counter, ask for them to be ordered. If they're frozen, thaw (in their plasti... Read more »

A Lot 18 buy. Big, beautiful, ripe, and luscious. Dark and inky. Opens with ripe plum and cherry preserves, then chocolate and fudge and lavender and vanilla, wet cedar and oak. Big mouthful, well balanced tannins and acidity with a finish that goes on and on. Did not decant, but got better and better and more subtle in the glass. Ridiculously...
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Wine review
by
puhnner

March 2015

Being from the UK, I bet you've heard about Bordeaux, Champagne, and Burgundy primarily?Even wines with the best reputations you may not like so best to go out and taste all kinds.
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Today my sweetie and I went to taste wines at two wine shops in Northern ... ... other special ones, a cheap Bordeaux, a mid-price Italian Sangiovese and a relatively expensive Burgundy red (recommended by the store owner).After a bit of Dim Sum further south in Falls Church, VA, we did a short drive to another wine shop called Arrowine (in Ar...
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V V - Thanks for the update on the $60 Malbec. I'm glad I didn't ... ... cheap (as in $14.99) Bordeaux wine that we picked up at one of the wine tastings. Sandra and I both like it and the price was a trea
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Taking a cue from Big Al, I took a couple of photos (with my phone which ... ... ... cab (which is really a Bordeaux style blend of five grapes). There was a moment when I thought, "I wish I had a taster of WHITE wine to go with this fish", but I got over it pretty fast. One of these days though! &nbs
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Thanks for tying that history together RF. Look what I picked up today at ... Three Malbec's, a Bordeaux and my prize selection, a Burgundy. I can't wait for that upcoming Viking River Cruise through the Burgundy regio
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New world styled blend of merlot and cab franc. Ruby red with a touch of plum and clear in the glass. Black fruit on the nose and in the palate. Light acidity with some fairly strong tannins leading to a medium length finish.
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Basically, they just bottle before fermentation is finished and let it continue ... that a Zin/Rubired blend. In Bordeaux they used to include one percent of Tannat in the blend but now you just add a spoonful of powdered tannins.Other than those and the Mission, I've had all of the other grapes from Europe. From CA I haven't had Carmenere, Dor...
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I have been drinking Bordeaux wines since the 1978 vintage and had bought several highly rated 2009 and 2010 wines to hold. I decided to open several to see if they were worth holding. I was more than a bit disappointed. I did not find much in the way of fruit or body compared with past vintages, nor did I believe that there was any value in my ...

Comment
by
540750Zuiko540750

Oct 31, 2011

I am having a Grand Vin Bordeaux tasting with these 2005 wines:
Pontet Canet, Lynch Bages, Pichon Baron, Pichon Lalande, Cos d'Esttournel, Rauzan-Segla, Leoville Barton, Cannon la Gaffeliere and last a 2000 Leoville-las-cases. How much time should I allow the wines to be opened in advance prior to tasting? I will be bringing them up from my 55...

Comment
by
132989mbhes132989

Sep 4, 2011

chateau du bedat 2000 bordeaux how is this wine and how much does it cost

Comment
by
928175pork4e15928175

Mar 6, 2011

A month ago, bought with my husband the Chateau Mazeris Canon Fronsac 2005 and we are crazy to find it again!!! I kept the bottle but seems useless. Anybody knows where can I get this beautiful wine. Tastes the best ever!!!! (Of course from Bordeaux)

Comment
by
791708MEmma791708

Jan 21, 2011

LES HAUTS DE GOELANE 1998

Comment
by
738689TigZ738689

Jan 21, 2011

I boughta bottle of 1998 15/16 years ago B/027130 I was lead to believe it would be matured when my daughter is 21.???????????????????? is this correct